Sign



Feb. 2, c MEYER 1,843,294 I SIGN Filed Sept. 17, 1931 mm mm @ASQDUNE @Asie HE "TAX 33 mm ,us

f fz'g.4 Fig.5 F516.

INVENTOR ATTORNEY Patented Feb. 2, 1932 Ngr FFI'CE HOWARD G. MEYER, 0F ASPINWALL, PENNSYLVANIA I sreiv Application filed September 17, 1931. Serial No. 563,251.

' Thisinvention relates to price signs which are particularly useful for indicating the daily priceof gasoline, it being among the objects of the invention to provide a sign of T '5] a permanent character inwhich part of the indicia is a permanent part of the sign itself and a part is interchangeable, such interchangeable or renewable parts being of the same general appearance as the permanent parts.

A further object of the invention is the provision of means for rendering certain characters or indicia of the signs readily removable without the use of tools or without requiring the fastening and unfastening of screw members.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a cast metal sign whichis designed to be of substantially uniform cross-section i720 to preventwarpage of the casting when the metal cools.

A further object of the invention is the provision of price signs of the above designated character which shall be of an ornamental character designed to aid in improving the appearance of gasoline dispensing stations and be of such proportion and design as to indicate at a glance the brand of gasoline dispensed at any particular station and the price of such gasoline.

The invention will become more apparent from a consideration of the accompanying drawings constituting a part hereof in which Figure 1 is a front elevational view of price sign embodying the principles of this invention;

Figure 2" a cross-sectional view along the line IIII of Figure 1. v

'Figure 3 an enlarged cross-section of the upper portion of the sign;

Figure 4 a side elevational view of the interchangeable characters;

Figure 5 a cross-section through the body of the casting showing perforations for mounting the characters; and

Figure 6 a sectional elevation illustrating the attachment of the characters to the sign. With reference to the several figures of the drawings, the structure therein illustrated comprises a casting generally designated at l-having its top portion 2 of an ornamental character, and having its edges raised, with the'letters or indicia 3 in relief. The top portion 2 may be employed to designate the I brandof gasoline by having the name of the brand or company cast integrally in the portion designated gasoline. The indicia-' That good gasoline, GflSfTaX, and Total is permanently cast in the sign and is in relief in the manner shown in Figure 2. The price occurring in line withthe gas, tax andtotal such as the prices 12, 3, andj15, are not a permanent part of the sign but are detachable and interchangeable in-accordance with price fluctuations as they occur. However, the price characters are of the same size and type'as thepermanent indicia on the sign so that-theyappear as a permanent part of the sign.

' On account of the'sign-being a casting and of substantial dimensions, it must be formed of relatively thin cross-section and to prevent warpage due to uneveness in the metal cooling, it is essential that the cross-section of the sign be substantially uniform throughout. To provide for this, the indicia are-hollow and of the thickness of the body of the casting as is-clearly shown in Figure 2 of the drawings. For example, the section of Fig ure 2 is taken through the center line passing through the reference characters 0 and L and shows that the letter O and the letter L are of the same thickness as the body of the sign;

The sign isdesigned to be mounted on the wall of a building by attaching means such as screws or nails disposed through the corner openings tend to assure that the interchangeable characters are secure on the sign, an off-set portion 5 is provided at the lower edge tohold it on a slant. V The body 6 of the signis preferably spaced from the frame or outer edge 7 so asnot to interfere with the mounting of the sign although'this is not essential. I p As previously stated, the price numerals herein designated by the reference character 8 are interchangeably mounted on the sign in a manner to render them detachable without the aid of tools. The characters are provided within a short distance of the front-of tl-ie sign to permit the hook-like projection being entered therein. The bottom perforation 12" for receiving the pin 9.is not counter-sunk.

To assemble the numeral 8, the curved projectiornlOis firstinserted in the openingsand thestraight pin like member 9 is thenplaced in; itsv perforation leaving;. the character mounted in' the manner shown in Figure-l6. In:this position the characters will not drop off and cannot beaccidentally brushed from the sign withoutbeingwlifted .in the same manner innvhichithey were assembled, namely, by raising; the bottom portion and then with drawing the curved: member 10 from the counter-sunk perforation.- This interl-ocktoget-her withthe provision of the projecting ledge 5 at the bottom of the sign holdingthe sign at a slight angle assures-that the-price characters remain-Yon the sign undisturbed and permits of the =-ready assembling; and changing ;ofthe :PIlCB characters from {day to day in accordance with thefludtuations" of-the prices.

On accountwof the-hollow characters and uniform cross-.sectionof the sign-,za perfectly straight casting-is produced as all-of the metal is cooledat a uniform rate thereby preventingjthe setting up of stresseswhich cause warping when the metal iszof; uneven. thick? ness:

By utilizing. the interchangeprice 1 characters with: a-substantiall'y thin. section of metal; in 1 the: sign such a signncanbe producedat' reasonable cost andprovides a decorative structure around gasoline stations which atthe; same time is; readily zvisible: to motorists at a'conside-rable distance; Two'of such signs may be mounted 011 the corners of a gasoline dispensing station so as to render them vi sible' from approaches-on either side of the buildin".

A sign of'the above describedcharacter is particularly useful as: it' saves the: replacement of the printed forms heretofore employed. It is now a requirement: in most Statesthat gasoline dispensing stations permanently display price signs designatingthe cost of gasoline and by; means of the present invention, this can ;be-accomplished at'a rea-- sonable, cost and Withthe further advantage thatrthesigns of large, companies havinga large number of dispensingv stations will all benniform;

I claim 2 adapted to be disposed in said perforations wit-hithe topv-lug bent toengage the countersunk perforation.

2. A sign for gasoline stations comprising a metal castinghavmg the indicia consisting of raised letters cast integrally therewith, said letters .beingofirsetand of substantiallyathe same crossesectional dimension. as the body of the castin Intestimony whereof I have hereunto :set

my hand a. V

HOWARD. O. MEYER. 

